The masterplan was lauded by judges for guiding an "introverted university campus into a city centre precinct that reinstates one of the Griffins' original ambitions in their national capital plan".

The masterplan is set to guide investment and renewal across the 143-hectare ANU campus over the next 20 years.

It won the 2020 Australian Urban Design Award in the category of Leadership Advocacy and Research: Local & Neighbourhood Scale during an online awards ceremony on Thursday night.

The award was presented to lead firm Arup in collaboration with Urban Enquiry, Lovell Chen, Mantra Studios, Karen Wright Projects, John Wardle Architects & Turnberry Consulting.

Judges, in the awards, which are co-convened by the Planning Institute of Australia, the Australian Institute of Architects and the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, suggested the masterplan brought the ANU into the 21^st century while meshing town and gown.

"Previously lacking a coherent vision for its future physical development, the ANU and its consultants have formulated a comprehensive and coherent urban design framework that capitalises on the positive campus attributes while deftly introducing new spatial, environmental and access strategies that, over time, will strengthen the university's standing both globally and locally," the judges' citation read.

City Renewal Authority CEO Malcolm Snow is also the awards jury chair.

"It was excellent to see integration of green infrastructure, climate change awareness, the importance of public space together with creative collaboration between professions and the infusion of First Nation's culture featuring prominently in this year's entries," Mr Snow said.

The ANU masterplan shared the award with Transforming Southbank Boulevard by City of Melbourne - City Design Studio.